Does horseshoes hurt the horse

Answer 1

Not if they are used properly. They are driven in the wall of the hoof, which is not sensitive. They may however be too close to the sensitive tissues of the hoof or even touch these, resulting in pain; this usually happens if the horse moves around while being shod or if the wall of the hoof is damaged in some way (or if the farrier makes a mistake).

Answer 2

This is a point-form version of what the link below says about the damage caused by horse shoes:

A.Walls cannot wear & maintain normal shape/length

- unnatural stresses on hoof as walls get too long

- incorrect trim cannot be worn away

B.Vibration (800 Hz)

- destroys hoof wall and tissue

- causes structural abnormalities in laminar corium, leading to compromised coffin bone suspension

- causes irritation of ligament & tendon attachments to periosteum of bones & joint cartilage

C.Hoof mechanism is impaired

- reduced shock absorption with fixation of the wall

- impact travels up leg & stresses joints, etc.

- ossifications

- coffin bone impacts sole which cannot draw flat

- circulation in the hoof is reduced

- heart is overstressed (without support from hooves)

- poor cell nutrition & reduced temperature

- reduced cell metabolism

- reduced horn quality and quantity - excessive waste metabolic protein unused in hoof production remains in bloodstream

- over stressing of kidneys, liver, skin

D. Physical trauma (bruising, etc.) to hoof tissues

E.Weight causes unnatural strains on joints & ligaments through centrifugal effects

F. Traction compromised: too little on smooth, slick terrain, too much on softer ground

G. Deformation & contraction of the hoof

- heel pain or "navicular syndrome"

- thrush

- skeletal & muscular stresses, conformational changes

H. Negative effects of nails

- physical damage to wall (holes)

- dehydration of white line horn

- vibrations affecting horn & corium

- insulation breached (metal conducts cold into foot, decreasing corium temperature and cell metabolism)

I. Danger & severity of injury increased

- to the horse itself (caught in wire, interference, etc.)

- to people

- to other horses

J.Damage to properties, trails, etc. increased dramatically

K.Prevents proper development of young horse's foot & coffin bone (especially palmar processes)

L. Orthopedic possibilities do not exist (circulation is reduced, while healing requires increased circulation)

M."Incorrect" shoeing increases rate & severity of damage

justa thought to add is that they can hurt other horses bedly if they are out in stead of just giving them a good wacking they will cut the skin. and also the other reason is that it makes their hooves soft as butter, well maybe not that soft but when they aren't walking on solid ground their hooves get softer from not being accustomed to hard ground hence why mustangs that live northern regions of the world, with rockier ground have harder feet then your normals turf walker. mountain living mustangs are the sturdiest all around.

Answer 3

No it does not hurt the horse. Not if their hooves cared for properly.

Answer 4

Horseshoes protect the horse's feet by covering the edges of the underside of the foot and preventing them from being scratched or cracked.